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Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement was appointed by RINO Gov. Snyder. She has been a reliable vote for the hard left Democrat majority on the court. She timed her departure to cement Democratic control over our highest court. The Democrats will have a 6 to 1 majority, so they will have the final say on all health care disputes in Michigan for the rest of your lifetime:
Clement stepping down from state Supreme Court, paving way for bigger Democratic majority
By Beth LeBlanc - February 19, 2025Lansing — Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement announced Wednesday that she will step down from the state's highest court, leaving Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer with the task of appointing her replacement.
Clement's departure and Whitmer's eventual appointment would shift the court from a 5-2 Democratic-nominated majority to a 6-1 Democratic-nominated majority, a margin that could add years to Republican efforts to regain a majority on the state's highest court.
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement plans to step down from the state's highest court by April 30, creating a vacancy for Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Clement is a Republican-nominated justice on the technically nonpartisan state Supreme Court.
Clement, who was appointed to the bench by Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder in 2017, said she informed Whitmer that she would leave the bench no later than April 30. Clement's eight-year term was set to expire at the end of 2026, meaning whomever Whitmer appoints to fill her seat will have to stand for election next year.
"Leading our state’s highest court has been an opportunity to continue a proud record of independence, fairness, and commitment to the rule of law," Clement said in a statement.
In a statement Wednesday, Whitmer said her office will "ensure a smooth transition" and "appoint her replacement after a thorough review."
“Throughout her distinguished tenure on the Michigan Supreme Court, Chief Justice Clement was an independent minded jurist who upheld the rule of law, protected our constitutional values, and stood strong for the principles of justice," Whitmer said.
Clement is leaving the bench to join the Virginia-based National Center for State Courts as president, according to the group's website. The group is a nonprofit focused on the "most pressing challenges and opportunities facing courts in the states and around the world" through training, consulting and technical assistance.
“Beth is an outstanding generational leader and an ideal President for NCSC to drive innovation and progress in our state courts and justice systems,” said Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush, who chaired the search committee for the group's next president.
In the statement distributed by the Michigan Supreme Court, Clement only said her future plans include finding ways "to bring people together, to put data to work, and to make a difference in the lives of people."
In that statement, she also highlighted the work of the State Court Administrative Office to make the “justice system more efficient, more accessible, more transparent, more accountable, and more data driven.”
Clement has been known to vote with Democratic-nominated justices on some significant court decisions, earning her censure from her own party over the years.
In 2018, Clement was one of two GOP-nominated justices who backed a 4-3 ruling that put a proposal creating the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission on the November ballot, a measure Republicans had opposed. Clement told The Detroit News she faced “bullying and intimidation” while deliberating on the case.
Democratic-nominated justices have gradually increased their majority since flipping the court in 2020. Prior to taking the majority in 2020, Democratic-nominated justices had a brief stint in the majority in 2010 and a longer period that ended in 1998.
Clement’s replacement will mark Whitmer’s second appointment to the Michigan Supreme Court. She appointed Justice Kyra Harris Bolden to the high court in November 2022, upon the resignation of Democratic-nominated Justice Bridget Mary McCormack.
Before being appointed to the high court, Clement was previously a top lawyer in the governor's office under Snyder.
Megan K. Cavanagh is now the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. She is the daughter of Michael Cavanagh, who was Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1991 to 1995. She is the niece of the late Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, who presided over the city's riot in 1967:
Cavanagh now officially Michigan’s chief justice after Clement departs
By Jon King - April 17, 2025Megan Cavanagh is now officially the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
One day after former Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement’s departure, on Tuesday, Chief Justice Cavanagh began her tenure heading up the state’s highest court.
Clement announced in February that she was leaving the court no later than April 30 to become president of the Virginia-based National Center for State Courts, a nonprofit that provides assistance and resources to courts both nationally and around the world.
Cavanagh, who was selcted by her fellow jurists last month to take over the role, was first elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2018 after being nominated by the Democratic Party. She serves as the court’s liaison on child welfare issues, tribal courts and as chair of the Commission on Well-Being in the Law among her other administrative responsibilities. Cavanagh previously served as co-lead on the Child Protective Legal Representation Task Force.
Clement’s departure will give Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, the opportunity to appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term, which runs through 2026.
Although state Supreme Court candidates appear on the nonpartisan section of the ballot, state parties nominate candidates to run for the position.
Clement was appointed by former Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, in November 2017 and ran for a full eight-year term after being nominated by Republicans in 2018.
Her departure will shift the court from a 5-2 Democratic-nominated majority to a 6-1 majority, with Justice Brian Zahra as the lone Republican-nominated jurist on the court. His term runs through 2030, at which point he will be 70 and ineligible to run again.
It’s not known when Whitmer will announce her pick to succeed Clement, but until she does the court will operate with just six justices.
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